An early spring hike

I love to trek for hours, and this spring I have had a couple of nice hikes.  The last long hike was with a couple of horses and this on was at an Audubon Sanctuary known as Hunt Hill.

Lichen and fungus have found a home on this fallen tree...

We saw a number of birds and even came upon a mink kit - too fast for my Nikon!

Kind of a major undertaking... look closely here.  Beavers have taken down trees as large around as 2 feet in some areas!

This sanctuary is home to all sorts of animals

There are barracks style accommodations for summer programs

The sancturay contains or borders many small lakes.

I thought this wavy pattern was very interesting - as it was formed by the simultaneous growth of the fungus - sort of a tree ring kind of insight to the fungus seasonal growth!

If you are very still, you will experience countless bird and aquatic mammal sightings.

We still have ICE on our lakes!  Brrrrr

Last years fallen leaf trapped under the ice with some methane...

A single berry is all that made it through the winter!

There are a few of these rustic cabins that can be rented, very nice!

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A time for renewall

Greetings all!  It is Easter weekend for the Western churches, our Orthodox friends will celebrate Pascha on May 1st this year - so some will celebrate this weekend, others in May.  Although the calendars may differ this is universally a time to reflect, appreciate the wonderful people and experiences you have in your life and to renew.  If pause for reflection this afternoon don't forget about the small things that matter, and for the many visitors to my little blog that are not of a Christian faith, my best wishes for you today as well! 

Happy Easter to all!

Some fun pics from recent travels... what a beautiful world we live in!

Typical winter scene in my world...

A Pelican skims the water using "ground effects."

The Angel Tree...

Water front Park in Charleston, SC

The USS Yorktown

Fort Sumter - where the American Civil War started...

 Beaufort Marina

Right across from the fantastic Saltus Restaurant!

Port Royal Marina... experimenting with long exposure settings.

Forsyth Park in beautiful Savannah,  Georgia!  Not far from the Forest Gump bench I might add...

The Dolomites

Approaching Innsbruck

What a beautiful morning this was...

Hope you enjoyed the pics!

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On the way out the door this morning I stopped for a moment

...to read a quotation written in another language... translated it said:

This quote was an attribution to St Francis of Assisi

This made me think of a lot of things the good St. is supposed to have have said.  Here are a few that will serve anyone well and perhaps inspire you in your "walk."

"Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible."

"If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man."

 “Keep a clear eye toward life's end. Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God's creature. What you are in his sight is what you are and nothing more. Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take nothing that you have received...but only what you have given; a full heart enriched by honest service, love, sacrifice, and courage.”

Have a fantastic day everyone!

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Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/f/francis_of_assisi.html

Food as culture and health...

I enjoy the cultures and the people I meet in my travels a lot, in fact they inspire me.  They make my life so very rich and I have so many memories of people in Japan, France, Italy, Germany and a host of other non-English language cultures who have met me and shared a moment trying to share an idea or describe something special... Fantastic. 

I discovered a movement common to many Europeans but new to most Americans... the notion of cultural preservation in cuisine.  To this regard I heartily recommend this. The movement to process less or nothing... and to locally grow your ingredients has become a university curriculum here.  I think this is a movement that has attached itself to sustaining characteristics like social depth and the intrinsic values of nutrition as supported by  good science. 

buon appetito

All ingredients are locally grown

and so delicious!

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Perugia

Stay tuned to this cyber url for my adventures in Perugia!  I've been in and out of this wonderful city for half a decade now, so it's time to put some serious effort into a good review!  Nikon battery on charge, lunch packed in my trusty back pack - off I go.

Walking along a wall after entering through one of the cities arches... I think this is by the Veterinary College

An interesting memorial dedicated to the Perugia Uprising. Opposite sides are shown below.

Griffins are pretty popular in Perugia, here we have one fighting a hydra sort of menace. Somehow this must be allegorical for the events of 20 June 1859...

Amazing detail in these bronze statues.  The memorial commemorates the Perugia Uprising.

Facing the East, this arch sits atop the city wall

Another view from the top of the city wall.

Looking East again, but from the city center and on top of the outer wall

This statue commemorates Pietro Perugino the artist that taught Raphael how to paint!

Vittorio Emanuele II - King of Sardinia met with Garibaldi he would become the first king of a united Italy since the 500's AD... 

Above one of the municipal buildings - more griffins! They also adorn the city coat of arms.

Vittorio - the detail is very impressive...

Across the piazza from St Lorenzo these two statues stand guard over a portico in the Palazzo dei Priori..

Outside San Lorenzo Cathedral - no photography is allowed inside.  I walked through this amazing church, it is beautiful. This bronze statue is of Julius III (Vincenzo Danti, 1555), is placed outside the church and was erected in honor of this pope who reinstated Perugia's city rights. Rights that had been removed by Pope Paul III in 1540.

Windy and cool this morning, but any day in Perugia is a good day!

This is a new kind of Ducati to me!

I like this! Check out what else Ducati Energia is up to!!!

 Hope you liked my wander through Perugia!

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The high mountain community of Pietralunga (Umbria)

I am a very fortunate person in many ways.  Today I visited the most beautiful mountain town of Pietralunga.

Snow capped mountains are a hike away and in so doing a treasured memory.

The Hotel Candeleto

Bella!

More on this area as time permits.

Great job NLO!

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